11 June 2007

Trooping spotted deer

High beauty’s visitants my intimates were.The neighing pride of rapid life that roamsWind-maned through our pastures, on my seeing moodCast shapes of swiftness; trooping spotted deerAgainst the vesper sky became a songOf evening to the silence of my soul.I caught for some eternal eye the suddenKing-fisher flashing to a darkling pool;A slow swan silvering the azure lake,A shape of magic whiteness, sailed through dream;Leaves trembling with the passion of the wind,Pranked butterflies, the conscious flowers of air,And wandering wings in blue infinityLived on the tablets of my inner sight;Mountains and trees stood there like thoughts from God.The brilliant long-bills in their vivid-dress,The peacock scattering on the breeze his moonsPainted my memory like a frescoed wall.I carved my vision out of wood and stone;I caught the echoes of a word supremeAnd metred the rhythm-beats of infinityAnd listened through music for the eternal Voice.